Fishing Reports for March 9

Washington

Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)

Well the waiting ends this week for the die hard fisherman. Ling Cod opens in Area 2 on Saturday March 12th. However, the winds are forecasted to blow in the high 20’s on Saturday so we may be waiting a few more days. .Always keep your safety the number on priority.

As you prepare for this fishery I always load up on Grub tails, bait hooks, Shrimp Flies, and lead. Work the hard bottom straight out and north of Westport.you will lose gear but keep in mind that the Lings are near the bottom. Remember stay in less that 180 feet of water to remain legal. Most fish are caught in the 70 to 120 feet of water range. Some folks like to anchor while others prefer to drift. Larger baits tend to work better for Lings.

Remember if you make it down for the opener that our local PSA chapter is meeting at 6 pm at the Maritime museum in Westport.

Razor Clamming remains closed in the area due to the high levels of Domoic Acid. It looks like we may have a local Willapa bay company, who has now been fined for dumping waste into the bay, to thank for those level remaining in the unsafe range. Well maybe we will get a dig before the season time frame is up.

Stop by and see us near Float 12 if you are down in Westport. Have Fun, Be Safe, and we will see you in Westport .

Marine Area 6

Marine Area 7

Area 7 was really windy last weekend. We were just getting ready to pull the gear and a nice 15-pound Blackmouth hit a Purple Haze Coho Killer at 135 feet.

Submitted by Dane at Team Rod-Dog Arches. The cover image of this week’s fishing reports was also contributed by Team Rod-Dog.

Jim Lawson landed this football shaped 15.47lb Chinook last weekend to move into third in the Frank Wilson Memorial Blackmouth Derby. He also takes the $50 weekly gift certificate provided by King’s Marine in Friday Harbor.

Salmon fishing has picked up some in the San Juan islands. The size of fish has improved, too. We haven’t had a problem getting keeper fish. Silver Horde Kingfisher Lite spoons in 3” have been the hot ticket for us.

WDFW Marine Area 7 Rule Change: beginning March 12th, the retention limit will drop from two hatchery clipped Chinook to one. This action is taken to keep the Winter Chinook season open, hopefully to it’s original April 30th ending date. As of right now, it’s estimated that the marine area is at 80% of it’s allotted Chinook encounters.

Here’s the leader board through week five of the 12th annual Wilson Derby. Jim Lawson bumped Greg Gorder by a tenth of an ounce to take over third, and a money spot…for now. Half way through the tournament, the ladies still hold the top two spots with Vicki Klein in first and Rustie Mager in second. Usually some bigger fish show up in March, so it’s still anybody’s game.

Here’s a boat load of Blackmouth. These hatchery fish are made to be caught…and eaten! These resident Chinook are some of the best eating salmon that swim.

Karen Rhinehart holds up the last of a two fish limit for the season. Those are some nice chunky Blackmouth right there.

Marine Area 8.1

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) predicts “Good” prospects for cutthroat during March in Marine Area 8.1.

Marine Area 8.2

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) predicts “Good” prospects for cutthroat during March in Marine Area 8.2, and “Poor” prospects for Coho.

Marine Area 9 (Admirality Inlet)

no report this week

Marine Area 10

no report this week

Marine Area 11

The salmon fishing has been slow overall the recent storms have limited access to the water but when the conditions are right there has been a little action near Quarter Master Harbor along the Southern end of Vashon Island West to about a mile past Pt. Dalco mostly trolling flasher and spoons or artificial squid.

There are also some small Coho ranging from about 14” to 18” along the shoreline throughout Southern Puget Sound.

Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal)

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) predicts “Fair” prospects for Coho during March in Marine Area 12.

Marine Area 13

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) predicts “Fair” prospects for Coho during February in Marine Area 13.

Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir

I had to go over to the west side Monday for a quarterly doctor checkups, and also to remind my wife that we had left the rain behind when we moved to the east side. Heading east to home we ran into the worst rain storm seen in awhile and then over the pass a snow squall, not bad enough to cover the highway but to slow us down. Now the next few days we are expecting heavy rains here. Today we will be spraying our fruit trees.

In the meantime the lakes look beautiful, yet we again have had our share of heavy winds. The early trout opener was quite successful, especially the lakes around George. There has been very spotty fishing on Potholes with few having success. I believe that the fish are on the move to spawn so I would concentrate targeting them up in the Crab Creek channel or up Linn Coulee. The test netting this fall showed that the population should be strong again this year. Also the year round lakes below the dam are still very fishy.

At the Salmon University in 2 weeks I will be speaking Saturday on the basic way to fish salmon (mooching) and then, Sunday, I will cover crabbing and shrimping using very successful methods. These classes are held but once a year with information on this web site. It is well worth the time to attend and there are limited seats available.

Salmon fishing was GOOD for anglers in East Sooke. Anglers were catching springs as large as 17.5 lbs in the bay. It has been best between Lamb Island and Fraser Island. There have also been reports of springs caught by the Trap Shack and in Whirl Bay, but those were smaller fish. Anglers have been successful with all types of gear. Anchovies in glow teaser heads have been very effective. Spoons, such as the G-Force and Skinny G, in Cop Car, Bon Chovy or Irish Cream colours were also effective. For flashers, the Madi, Lemon Lime and Purple Onion have been good. Some halibut up to 50 lbs were also brought back to the marina.

Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week. The Flats have been holding some nice fish recently for those trolling close to the bottom. It’s been best in 100-140 depths. Good lures have been Green Splatterback Coho Killers, Skinny G spoons and APT Needlefish spoons.

Halibut fishing was GOOD this past weekend. Nick Hui brought in a 51.9 lb halibut from Oak Bay for 4th place on our leader board. Anglers that were fishing were using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use Mudraker, Lucky or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

Salmon fishing was GOOD, just like last week. There were lots of springs at the entrance to the bay. The anglers are fishing close to the bottom and often bouncing the downrigger balls on the bottom, in 120-150 feet of water. There is still a lot of bait right inside the bay. Small spoons, such as the G-Force, Coyote and Gypsy, in the glow and/or any bright colours were very effective. Hootchies and squirts also produced well. Flashers that remain popular include Glow green, Lemon-Lime and Purple Onion. And you can’t go wrong fishing anchovies in a Bloody Nose teaser.

Halibut fishing was VERY GOOD this past weekend week. Best areas were Race Rocks, William Head, 27 Fathom reef and Constance Bank. Anglers that were fishing were using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use Mudraker, Lucky or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com

Sidney

Salmon fishing was FAIR near Sidney. Coal Island and near the Red Can by Sidney Spit were the hot spots for salmon this past week. The majority of the winter springs caught recently have been short of the minimum size for retention and most areas have some fish. Most anglers are fishing using anchovies in Bloody Nose and UV Green teaser heads. Coho Killer spoons have also been working well, especially in double glow and Gold Nugget. Sidney Anglers held their Halibut Derby this past weekend. Steve Cote won the derby with a 43.15 lb halibut caught near D’Arcy Island in 240 feet of water. Only one halibut was caught during the derby. We do know that a huge “barndoor” halibut was caught and released this past weekend close to Sidney.

The salmon fishing was FAIR for winter springs this past week. There are lots of small springs off Sooke right now but there is the occasional larger fish. Anchovies have been the top bait recently, especially with glow teaser heads. The 3”-4” Coyote, Gypsy and G-Force spoons, as well as hoochies, are also top choices for Sooke anglers in the winter months. Good colors have been Outfitters, Irish Cream and No Bananas. Hoochies in White Glow, Army Truck and Tiger Prawn have been catching their fair number of fish. The most popular flashers recently have been the Purple Onion, the Gibbs Outfitter and the Lemon Lime.

Fishing for salmon was FAIR off Victoria. The fish were plentiful Constance Bank and near Albert Head (on the pinnacles). Most of the salmon are still not very large in size. The inside of the harbour has also produced some better springs and Brotchie Ledge to Ross Bay has also produced some fish. Spoons and squirts were successful in getting hook ups. Bloody Nose and Purple Haze have been the most popular colors for teaser heads. Good choices in plastic baits are the Electric Chair, Purple Haze and White Glow. Coho Killers, AP Needlefish, G Force and Coyote spoons in Green Splatterback, Moon Glow and Cop Car colours have also been good. The Purple Onion, Lemon Lime and Madi have been effective lately. Herring fishing in the Gorge has been good this past week.

Halibut fishing was VERY GOOD over the weekend. We heard on 18 halibut seen at the Esquimalt ramp one day this past weekend. There were quite a few halibut taken at Constance Bank and near Albert Head. Anglers that were fishing were using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use Mudraker, Lucky or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

The River has been rising all week. The water level at the lake today was at 2.2 meters and near Duncan at 1.85 meters. The water clarity has been good. There is a dangerous sweeper above the Skutz Fall pull out and another one above the Bible Camp. One boat was lost recently, but fortunately no lives were lost. Anglers have been catching lots steelhead and the occasional brown trout in the Riverbottom area, mostly from drift boats. For steelhead, good lures to fish are Spin ‘n Glo’s, Beads and yarn, Gooey Bobs and the always reliable Pink Worm. Spoons can also be a great lure in these conditions. We’ve also heard of some fly anglers hooking up with steelhead too. Fly fishing at the top end of the river has been good.

Fishing is PICKING UP in most lakes. Wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake, where the fishing has been good for these large trout. Steelheading has been good in most Island rivers.

Trout fishing was PICKING UP on most lakes in the South Island area. Cowichan Lake has produced some large cutthroat trout for those trolling 3” plugs, but that is strictly a catch and release fishery for large trout. Shore anglers at local lakes are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing from shore and close to the bottom. Orange Garlic and Pink Garlic have been good choices recently for Powerbait. Fly anglers are fishing Pumpkinheads, Wooly Buggers, Leeches and Micro Leech patterns on full sink fly lines. Trollers are catching trout with Gibbs Gang Trolls and Gibbs Wedding Bands. Other good trolling lures are the Apex Trout Killers in rainbow, green or black and white patterns. Flatfish and/or Kwikfish have also been effective in sizes 5 to 7 in Frog, Black with Silver Flake or Rainbow Pattern.

The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC has started their spring releases of catchable rainbow trout from the Vancouver Island Trout Hatchery. On February 29th, Prospect Lake received 2,000 trout, Thetis Lake received 1,000 trout and Glen Lake received 500 trout with an average size of 222 grams. On March 3rd, Elk Lake received 2,000 catchable rainbows and Shawnigan Lake received 1,950 trout averaging 232 grams.

BASS – Bass fishing is VERY SLOW. Fishing drop shot style is your best bet now. Soft plastics rigged “Carolina Style “are also a good choice when fishing the bottom, drop offs and reefs, and have been most productive in 4” Smoke or Pumpkinseed Yum baits. Langford Lake, Shawnigan Lake, Prospect Lake and Elk and Beaver Lakes are the best local bass lakes. St. Mary’s Lake on Salt Spring Island is also a great lake for bass fishing.